Deva (ten, guardian deity)
Benzaiten
弁財天
Benzaiten is a goddess who derives from Sarasvatī, a water deity of India, and became a guardian deity of Buddhism. Hōgonji on Chikubushima introduces faith in her connected with music, wisdom, wealth, and more. The flow of water, music, purity, and the blessings of daily life are linked together in her.
This introduction is based on materials from Shōhōin (Tobi Fudō). It is summarized within the scope of the beliefs and traditions those materials convey, and does not present explanations or practices shared by all schools, temples, and shrines.
English pages are the site’s own translations of its Japanese pages. The sources cited are in Japanese. 日本語で読む
Benzaiten, connected with water, music, and wisdom
Benzaiten is a goddess who derives from Sarasvatī, a water deity of India, and became a guardian deity of Buddhism. Hōgonji on Chikubushima introduces faith in her connected with music, wisdom, wealth, and more. The flow of water, music, purity, and the blessings of daily life are linked together in her.
Source: 竹生島 宝厳寺
Wishes for progress in the arts and for good fortune
At Hōgonji, a tradition of faith praying for progress in the performing arts and for prosperity in business has been handed down. Besides the spelling 弁才天, with the character 才 (talent), she is also written 弁財天, with the character 財 (wealth), and has been widely cherished as a deity of good fortune. Her forms include a two-armed figure holding a biwa lute and an eight-armed figure holding weapons.
Source: 竹生島 宝厳寺・飛不動尊 正宝院
The Rengee: welcoming Benzaiten and sending her back
Hōgonji's Rengee is handed down as an event in which Benzaiten, welcomed in the local community, is sent back again to Chikubushima. She has been worshipped not only through wishes for the arts and business, but also within this practice of local people welcoming the deities and sending them off with gratitude.
Source: 竹生島 宝厳寺
The sutra that teaches about Benzaiten
Benzaiten is a deva (ten) who entered Buddhism through the Konkōmyō Saishōō-kyō. This sutra states that Benzaiten grants wisdom, long life, and wealth to those who preach the sutra and those who hear it. In the seventh fascicle of the sutra, she is described as a brilliant deity full of wisdom, and it is also taught that those who praise her and seek her protection will obtain boundless blessings. The characters 金光明 are read "konkōmyō," not "kinkōmyō."
Source: コトバンク（小学館『日本大百科全書（ニッポニカ）』）・国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション
Ugajin and Uga Benzaiten
The Kannon Museum of Hasedera explains that in Japan, faith in Benzaiten became linked with faith in Ugajin, a deity with a human head and a serpent's body, strengthening her character as a deity of wealth and fortune. The form of Ugajin and the Ugajin mantra published by Myōenji can be found on a dedicated introduction page.
Source: 鎌倉 長谷寺 観音ミュージアム・天台宗 和光山 妙圓寺
Mantra (in Japanese, as written in the sources)
おん そらそばていえい そわか
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院
オン ウカヤジャヤギャラベイ ソワカ
Source: Wikipedia
Shown as written in the Japanese sources. This site does not set how or how many times to recite it.
Related shrines and temples
Related kami and buddhas
Sources (in Japanese)
- 飛不動尊 正宝院「仏様の世界：弁財天」（2026-10-14 確認）
- 飛不動尊 正宝院「仏様の世界：目次」（2026-10-14 確認）
- 飛不動尊 正宝院「仏様の世界：七福神」（2026-10-14 確認）
- 竹生島 宝厳寺「宝厳寺探訪：本堂・弁才天」（2026-10-15 確認）
- 竹生島 宝厳寺「年間行事」（2026-10-15 確認）
- コトバンク（小学館『日本大百科全書（ニッポニカ）』）「弁才天（定方晟 執筆）」（2026-10-19 確認）
- 国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション「新纂仏像図鑑 天之巻（国訳秘密儀軌編纂局 編、仏教珍籍刊行会、1930年）」（2026-10-19 確認）
- 鎌倉 長谷寺 観音ミュージアム「2025年新春特別開帳 弁天さまと巳年の神仏」（2026-10-20 確認）
- 天台宗 和光山 妙圓寺「岩屋霊穴 — 宇賀神（岩屋本尊）」（2026-10-20 確認）
- Wikipedia「弁才天（真言の節）」（2026-10-19 確認）